In an inspiring eco-friendly initiative, the ICAR-Directorate of Poultry Research (ICAR-DPR), Hyderabad, has successfully transformed poultry litter into vermicompost by integrating dry leaves, turning waste into wealth. This pioneering project not only addresses waste management challenges in the poultry industry but also contributes to sustainable farming practices.
Tackling Poultry Waste with Science
Large-scale poultry farming produces significant amounts of litter and manure—often leading to serious environmental concerns if not managed properly. ICAR-DPR’s innovative approach involved creating compost using poultry litter and dry leaves to achieve desired Carbon-to-Nitrogen (C/N) ratios, followed by vermicomposting with earthworms after neutralizing nitrogen toxicity.
Two Composting Approaches: 35:1 and 25:1 C/N Ratios
1. C/N Ratio 35:1
- Inputs: 13 kg poultry litter + 46 kg dry leaves
- Initial conditions: RH 48%, pH 5.2, Temp 36.2°C
- Outcome: Compost was ready in 57 days with final RH 50%, pH 5.0, Temp 30.2°C
2. C/N Ratio 25:1
- Inputs: 40 kg poultry litter + 40 kg dry leaves
- Initial conditions: RH 47%, pH 5.3, Temp 36.0°C
- Outcome: Compost ready in 57 days with final RH 50%, pH 5.0, Temp 30.2°C
Vermicomposting: Earthworms Join the Party
After preparing the compost, the next step was vermicomposting—introducing earthworms to further break down the material into nutrient-rich organic fertilizer.
Vermicompost with 35:1 C/N Ratio
- Earthworms were introduced to pre-composted litter.
- Within 80 days, a rich vermicompost was formed and a thriving worm population remained.
Vermicompost with 25:1 C/N Ratio
- Similar process with 25:1 compost.
- Vermicompost also ready in 80 days, showcasing successful nitrogen detoxification.
Eggora’s Take
This “Wealth out of Waste” initiative by ICAR-DPR is a model for sustainable poultry waste management. For poultry farmers and agri-entrepreneurs in the Eggora community, this presents a replicable, environmentally-friendly solution to reduce litter load while producing valuable organic fertilizer.
Let’s transform poultry waste into profit—with science and sustainability.
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